diff --git a/src/config/rcxml.c b/src/config/rcxml.c
index 00217596..c1b73c35 100644
--- a/src/config/rcxml.c
+++ b/src/config/rcxml.c
@@ -684,6 +684,10 @@ get_send_events_mode(const char *s)
 		goto err;
 	}
 
+	if (!strcasecmp(s, "disabledOnExternalMouse")) {
+		return LIBINPUT_CONFIG_SEND_EVENTS_DISABLED_ON_EXTERNAL_MOUSE;
+	}
+
 	int ret = parse_bool(s, -1);
 	if (ret >= 0) {
 		return ret
@@ -691,10 +695,6 @@ get_send_events_mode(const char *s)
 			: LIBINPUT_CONFIG_SEND_EVENTS_DISABLED;
 	}
 
-	if (!strcasecmp(s, "disabledOnExternalMouse")) {
-		return LIBINPUT_CONFIG_SEND_EVENTS_DISABLED_ON_EXTERNAL_MOUSE;
-	}
-
 err:
 	wlr_log(WLR_INFO, "Not a recognised send events mode");
 	return -1;